Anthony Ippolito portrays young Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky, the 2026 film about the making of Rocky.
An inspiring, nostalgic look at Sylvester Stallone’s determination to make Rocky his way.
I recently attended an advance screening of I Play Rocky, and I walked away enjoying it much more than I expected. It’s a movie about the making of a movie, but more importantly, it’s about believing in yourself when almost nobody else does.
For those of us who were teenagers when Rocky premiered in 1976, the original film was a big deal. I was 16 years old, and Rocky Balboa became one of cinema’s most unforgettable underdogs. Fifty years later, we’re finally getting a movie about the extraordinary fight it took to bring him to the screen.
Synopsis: An unknown and financially struggling Sylvester Stallone writes the screenplay for Rocky but refuses to sell it unless he can play the title character. Facing rejection from Hollywood executives, he risks everything to bring his vision to the screen, creating one of cinema’s most beloved underdog stories.
Why Is It Called I Play Rocky?
The title deserves an explanation, especially for younger audiences unfamiliar with the story behind the original film. Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay for Rocky with one nonnegotiable condition: he would play Rocky Balboa. Hollywood executives loved his script. They wanted to buy it. What they didn’t want was an unknown actor playing the lead.
But Stallone wouldn’t budge. His position was simple: “I play Rocky.”
As portrayed in the film, the offers kept climbing: $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, and eventually $360,000. These were enormous sums in the mid-1970s, especially for a struggling actor who was practically broke. Imagine turning down that kind of money when you desperately need it! Yet Stallone believed in his screenplay and, more importantly, believed that he was the only person who could bring Rocky Balboa to life.
That determination is the heart of I Play Rocky.
The Story Behind the Story
What makes this film so compelling is discovering just how difficult Stallone’s journey really was. He wasn’t an established Hollywood star. He was struggling financially, facing rejection, and fighting studio executives who were convinced his screenplay was worth buying but that he wasn’t worth casting.
Fortunately, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff recognized the potential of the project and helped bring it to fruition. The film also introduces us to Stallone’s wife, Sasha Czack, whose belief in him provided support during those difficult years.
And that’s what stayed with me after watching the movie. Sometimes the greatest obstacle isn’t a lack of talent or opportunity. It’s convincing others to believe in something you already know you can accomplish.
Casting That Deserves Recognition
I Play Rocky. Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone
Anthony Ippolito, who plays the young Sylvester Stallone, is extraordinary in the role. The resemblance is uncanny! He looks so much like a young Stallone that at times I felt I was watching the real actor. He has the facial expressions, mannerisms, and unmistakable voice down perfectly, although he occasionally sounds as if he has a few more rocks in his mouth than Stallone himself.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, including AnnaSophia Robb as Sasha Czack, P.J. Byrne as Irwin Winkler, Toby Kebbell as Robert Chartoff, Matt Dillon as Stallone’s father, and Jay Duplass as director John G. Avildsen.
Why This Movie Matters
I hope younger generations will appreciate the significance of this story. Today, Rocky is such an established part of popular culture that it’s easy to forget there was a time when nobody knew who Sylvester Stallone was. The original film became an enormous success and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. But none of that would have happened quite the same way if Stallone had simply accepted the money and walked away from the role. Stories like this deserve to be told because they remind us that success doesn’t always come from having doors opened for us. Sometimes it comes from refusing to let those doors close.
For those of us who remember 1976, I Play Rocky is a wonderful trip down memory lane. For younger viewers, it’s an opportunity to discover the remarkable backstory of a film that became a cultural phenomenon.
My Final Thoughts
I Play Rocky is an extremely enjoyable, uplifting movie, particularly during the fall season when theaters tend to fill with heavier dramas and serious awards contenders. It’s nostalgic without relying entirely on nostalgia, and inspirational without feeling overly sentimental. I liked it more than I expected, and I think it’s a story worth watching whether you grew up with Rocky Balboa or are meeting him for the first time.
One very important recommendation: Stay through ALL the credits! Don’t leave when they begin rolling, and don’t leave when you think they’re almost finished. There’s one final scene at the very end that absolutely should not be missed.
After all, this is a story about a man who refused to quit. It seems only fitting that audiences should stay until the very last moment.
- Title: I Play Rocky (2026)
- Director: Peter Farrelly (Green Book)
- Screenwriter: Peter Gamble
- Starring: Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P.J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Jay Duplass, Tracy Letts, and Stephan James
- Genre: Biographical Drama
- Rating: PG-13
- Runtime: 2 hours, 8 minutes
- Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
- Release: November 6, 2026, in select theaters; November 20, 2026, nationwide
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